GCC, South Korea Launch 7th Round of Trade Negotiations

General view of Riyadh city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
General view of Riyadh city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
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GCC, South Korea Launch 7th Round of Trade Negotiations

General view of Riyadh city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
General view of Riyadh city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

The Seventh Round of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and South Korea was launched at the headquarters of the GCC in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported Wednesday.

The negotiations, which are scheduled to last until Thursday, are set to discuss as many as 14 issues on promoting trade between the two sides and enhancing investment and cooperation on digital trade, and small and medium enterprises, SPA said.

Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harby, General Coordinator of the GCC negotiation team, said these agreements come in implementation of instructions of the leaders of the GCC countries towards enhancing the Council’s strategic ties with its partners.

He confirmed that the agreement under discussion is set to contribute to stimulating economic, commercial and investment growth and to support entrepreneurship sectors in GCC states.



Saudi Arabia, Italy Sign MoU to Strengthen Collaboration in Renewable Energy

The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA
The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Italy Sign MoU to Strengthen Collaboration in Renewable Energy

The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA
The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy and electricity interconnection. SPA

Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz has met in Riyadh with Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin to explore avenues for cooperation across various energy sectors.

The two sides signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Italy, serving their shared interests.

The MoU focuses on key areas such as energy transitions and security, renewable energy, electricity interconnection, energy efficiency, geothermal energy, methane emissions reduction, advancing energy storage solutions, petroleum, natural gas, and conventional and transitional fuels.

It also addresses enhancing the stability and reliability of petroleum and natural-gas markets, reducing market volatility, and improving energy supply security and supply chains.
The agreement highlights innovation and technology, such as hydrogen project development, climate-change mitigation solutions, the circular carbon economy, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Additionally, it emphasizes digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence in the energy sector while fostering joint initiatives to support engineering and construction projects in energy. These efforts align with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.